When Stefano Gareth turned fifteen, the Duke of Gareth ordered him to assist with his duties. One of his responsibilities was to greet the guests visiting the duke.

Stefano grumbled every time he greeted a guest.

“My father must be dumping the tasks he hates the most on me.”

But today, he didn’t complain. His brow furrowed as he saw a girl with a swollen face and a bruise under one eye.

“They beat up a tiny girl like that?”

However, the girl didn’t seem to be in pain. She glanced into the drawing room, looked back at her mother, and smiled, quickly covering the gap where she’d lost a tooth.

Baron Ryke, Baroness Ryke, and their only son, Wolf Ryke, who had rushed ahead to the duke’s study, froze at the sight of the girl and her family. Wolf especially kept an eye on his father’s expression.

Sir Gareth noticed this and shook his head.

“They seem to realize they’ve done wrong.”

The Ryke family had a long history of producing generals. The most famous was the previous Baron Ryke, nicknamed “Lion’s Claw,” Gareth’s most formidable weapon in the west.

In contrast, the Ditche family had traditionally supplied the Gareth army before transitioning to administrative roles.

The Ryke family had always disliked the Ditche family for rising to prominence through administrative work. However, Baron Ryke changed his mind when the Ditche family emerged as the power behind the Gareth estate.

To strengthen the weakening Ryke family after the previous baron’s death, he arranged an engagement between the children of the two families.

Baron Ryke glared at his son Wolf and his wife when he saw the girl’s injured face. Wolf hid behind his mother’s skirt.

Baron Ryke immediately realized his mistake as he looked at the girl, Anne Ditche, with her swollen face.

“I shouldn’t have rushed here. I lost my temper after hearing only my wife’s version.”

Anne Ditche bowed politely to Sir Gareth despite her swollen face. Baron and Baroness Ditche also bowed and stood silently, glaring at Wolf and Baroness Ryke.

Stefano spoke in a cheerful tone.

“It’s been a while since the prominent families of the Gareth estate gathered. Oh! Just in time—the dessert and tea are here. Please, have a seat.”

The Ryke couple and Wolf sat across from the Ditche family and Anne.

Stefano, trying to lighten the mood, addressed the younger Anne and Wolf.

“You like sweets, don’t you? Help yourselves! Oh… I see you’ve just lost a tooth, so chewing might be hard. Once the tea cools, have some. You know it’ll hurt if something hot touches your wounded mouth, right?”

Baron Ryke didn’t miss the opportunity Stefano created to ease the tension.

He chuckled. “Young Master Stefano, you’ve gotten skilled at hosting. As you can see, it was just a children’s scuffle. I’m embarrassed we rushed here so rashly. Since we’re all here, let’s enjoy some conversation.”

Anne Ditche looked over at Wolf and Baroness Ryke. Both were visibly flustered at Baron Ryke’s sudden shift in tone.

Baroness Ryke blurted out in desperation, “Even if Wolf’s words were harsh, Anne! You should have backed down quietly—”

Anne turned to Baroness Ryke and stared intently. Her expression seemed to say, “You really can’t see the truth, even now?”

Sir Gareth also viewed the fight as a typical childhood squabble between ten-year-olds Anne and Wolf.

“Wolf Ryke fighting a girl—his fiancée, no less—is a problem. But still, it’s just a children’s quarrel.”

The real problem was the parents. Realizing he’d acted rashly, Baron Ryke was trying to fix the situation, but Baroness Ryke seemed fixated only on her son’s injury. Despite seeing Anne’s bruises, she glared at the girl.

Anne, speaking with a lisp due to her lost tooth, directed her words not at Baroness Ryke, but at Sir Gareth.

“I told Wolf Ryke we shouldn’t duel. I said it was too dangerous since we’d only just started learning. But he called me a coward. He even mocked the Ditche family, saying we’re just pen-pushers who avoid the battlefield. How could I stand by while my family was insulted? Even if he’s my fiancé and a kid, Ditche doesn’t tolerate that.”

Her tone was grave, but the lisp made her sound adorable. Baron and Baroness Ditche looked at their daughter with pride.

Baron Ryke glared at his son.

‘He’s running his mouth with things we only say at home… What a fool.’

Wolf quickly clung to his mother to avoid his father’s gaze. Baron Ryke sighed.

‘Anne already knows who holds the most power here. But that boy of mine…’

He glanced at Baron Ditche, who maintained a neutral expression, though Baroness Ditche openly smirked at Wolf for hiding behind his mother.

Baroness Ryke, trying to console her son, shouted at Anne.

“Even if Wolf’s words were harsh, Anne! If you’d just stepped back—”

Anne interrupted, “He would’ve called me a coward again. Who’s the coward here? He dropped his sword and ran at the sight of blood! Then he tattled on me! You call yourself a Ryke? If your grandfather, the Lion’s Claw, rose from his grave, he’d smack you with his coffin lid!”

“Anne Ditche!”

Duke Gareth entered the drawing room, calling out.

“Let’s leave the dead in peace, shall we? It’d be better to have a chat among ourselves today.”

Baron Ditche gave his daughter a warning glance before bowing to the Duke. Following Duke Gareth was Baron Koon. With that, the three families that managed the practical affairs of Gareth’s territory were all present.

The Koon family, known for mercenaries; the Ditche family, for administration; and the Ryke family, for the military.

Baron Koon quickly assessed the situation by observing the children’s faces and the expressions on both couples.

‘They fought. Judging by the atmosphere, this will end in a broken engagement today. Which side will bring it up first? Probably the proud Ryke family.’

Baron Koon quietly stepped back behind Duke Gareth, adopting a stance of detached observation.

Anne had covered her mouth after Duke Gareth entered.

‘I need to watch my words. Father’s really going to scold me this time.’

Sir Gareth gestured to the two children with his eyes. Duke Gareth frowned slightly and said,

“Aren’t you ashamed to run here just because the children fought?”

Baron Ryke quickly apologized.

“I acted rashly because I was blinded by concern for my only child. I’m deeply sorry.”

Baron and Baroness Ditche bowed silently. Anne alternated glances between Duke Gareth and Baron Ryke, observing their reactions.

Duke Gareth spoke again. “At this age, it’s normal for them to fight. What are they now—eight?”

Anne responded firmly. “Ten.”

Duke Gareth stifled a smile at her lisping pronunciation. 

“I see. Ten is certainly the age to be getting into fights. Then we’ll end it here.”

Anne stepped forward with a determined expression. 

“I want to annul my engagement with the Ryke family. I don’t need a fiancé who insults my family. And I especially don’t need one who calls me a coward, refuses to accept defeat, and then runs to his parents. Please annul the engagement, Duke Gareth.”

Baroness Ryke erupted in anger. 

“The Ryke family should be the ones to say that! A girl this wild and ill-mannered has no place in our family.”

Baroness Ditche, ready to argue, was restrained by Baron Ditche, who spoke calmly. 

Then let’s annul the engagement in accordance with the Ryke family’s wishes.”

Baroness Ryke flinched, realizing she might have acted too hastily. Baron Ryke closed his eyes tightly.

‘D*mn Ditche! He’s twisted it to make it seem like we initiated the annulment.’

Duke Gareth clicked his tongue at how quickly the engagement was broken. Baron Koon’s eyes gleamed.

‘Perfect. It’s better for all three families to be at odds than for two to team up.’

Sir Gareth burst out laughing when he saw Anne baring her teeth at Baroness Ryke in response to the “wild” comment.

Duke Gareth, however, scowled. Sir Gareth coughed and said, 

“This engagement was made too early by overzealous adults. It’s best to end it now. Does anyone have any objections to the annulment?”

There was no choice. Even Baron Ryke now believed breaking the engagement was for the best. He wasn’t fond of Anne, who was bold and outspoken.

‘Even if we became in-laws, it would be hard to gain any advantage from the cunning Ditche family. Better to marry Wolf off to someone from the capital. We’re done with the Ditche family.’

And so the engagement was broken.

As soon as Anne exited the drawing room, she turned to Baron Ditche and said, 

“It was the right choice to break the engagement. Wolf Ryke might pretend to be the Lion’s Claw, but unless he’s tied to a post in the wind and rain for three days straight, he’ll never live up to it. He wouldn’t even be the dirt under the claw!”

Her words echoed down the corridor, and Sir Gareth barely managed to stifle a laugh behind his hand.

***

Ten years later.

Anne Ditche’s first thought when she saw the military academy recruitment notice was simple.

“They’re still short on soldiers in Gareth?”

But her thoughts changed the moment she saw the details about the examination.

It stated that Sir Gareth himself would oversee the exam—and that he would be bringing his beloved black warhorse, Shadow, to the test.

“Shadow will be there…!”

Anne’s love for black warhorses was immense. Living in Gareth territory, how could one not be enamored with them?

“That massive build! The sturdy yet sleek legs! The muscles! The gleaming black coat! And those eyes!”

The moment Anne first saw Shadow, she had fallen in love. She dreamed of running beside him. Riding him? That was too lofty a wish.

Baron Ditche, having heard her wish many times, always told her, “Forget it! Duke Gareth said it himself—Sir Gareth keeps Shadow’s stable cleaner than his own room. Sir Gareth doesn’t care about his room, but he personally cleans Shadow’s stable. No one dares touch even a hair on Shadow’s coat!”

The Ditche family was one of the oldest and most prestigious families in Gareth’s territory, and Baron Ditche, Anne’s father, was the key figure managing its administration.

Yet, even Baron Ditche could not take Anne into the black warhorse breeding grounds or stables. That was how thorough Sir Gareth’s security and care over the black warhorses were. Despite these strict measures, Anne’s admiration and longing for Shadow continued to grow.

Since it was the first time the military academy was recruiting students, Sir Gareth himself was said to be overseeing the candidates.

“This might be my last chance to see Shadow,” Anne thought.

As Anne Ditche gazed at the military academy recruitment notice with intense enthusiasm, Baroness Ditche spoke with concern.

“We’ve taught you basic swordsmanship and martial arts, but isn’t the military academy too difficult? I heard people are flocking to it because they promise to make graduates military commanders. Some families are even calling back children they sent to the academy, saying it’s better to attend the military academy. And this time, Sir Gareth himself will be personally training the selected students.”

Anne nodded and responded, “That’s right. The competition will be fierce. Who wouldn’t want to become an officer in Gareth? I don’t even expect to be accepted.”

Baroness Ditche suddenly looked hopeful. “Don’t tell me… you’re aiming for Sir Gareth?”

“No. Shadow is going to be at the exam, Mother. Since I’m supposed to attend the academy next summer, this autumn exam is probably my last chance to see Shadow. Even if I fail, I’ll have no regrets if I can just run alongside him.”

Baroness Ditche was a little disappointed, but knowing Anne’s intense love for black warhorses and Shadow, she simply smiled. Since Anne had no ambition to be accepted into the academy, the baroness did not oppose submitting an application.

People would gossip about Anne’s participation, but the talk surrounding her had already reached its peak after her fight with Wolf and their broken engagement. Plus, since Sir Gareth would be at the exam in person, the baroness assumed there would be other young noblewomen more interested in “side attractions” like Anne.

However, contrary to her expectations, Anne was the only female applicant among the military academy candidates. Baroness Ditche pursed her lips as she looked at her husband.

“I didn’t expect Gareth’s women to be this passive.”

Baron Ditche nodded in agreement. “Exactly!”

Anne Ditche’s application to the military academy became the talk of Gareth’s social circles.